Non-Dillon Dies in a 550

[Green Frog]

Background; I inherited my Dad’s Dillon 550 he built like Johnny Cash’s Cadillac, “one piece at a time,” by upgrading a 450. I just don’t need it in any of the calibers he left with it, but I just found a 32 cal conversion kit (shell plate, pins, and funnel) on our favorite gun auction site.

Now my question; it looks like Dillon is pretty adamant about the superiority of using their dies instead of anybody else’s but I have a like new carbide set from RCBS that is surplus to my other needs and wonder whether there is any legitimate need to buy the Dillon set? I do remember when Dad was setting this rig up he used dies from other sources with good results...

Anyway, if anyone has personal experience with RCBS dies in the early 550 conversions and would be willing to share, this would be most helpful.

TIA ~ Froggie

[MostlyLeverGuns]

I have used Lee, RCBS and Redding dies on my 550. In some cases, there was not room for the die lock ring to fit, lock ring diameter and/or thickness can create problems. I drilled and tapped the Dillon toolhead for setscrews and used a rubber plug under the setscrew to secure the die.

[W.R.Buchanan]

Froggy: Anybody's dies will work just fine in your Dillion. I use mostly Lee Dies in mine, and especially the Lee Factory Crimp Dies which are the best design there is available..

Randy

[Goldstar225]

I'm using RCBS dies in mine with no problem. The fit with the RCBS lock ring is tight but doable. If it's an issue I think you can get the Dillon rings to put on the other brand dies.

[Don Purcell]

What everyone has said, just set it up and run with it. One advantage with Dillon dies is they are really funneled at the opening to guide cases in easier but you will be good to go .

[Daver7]

I've not used RCBS dies but I have used lee Hornady and Redding. I think on one of the Lee dies I had to put the lock ring under the tool head instead of on top. other than that Ive had no problems

[NoZombies]

I load .32 long on a 550 using RCBS dies. Just make sure the case in station 1 is lined up with the die opening, and you'll be just fine.

[downzero]

I have used all kinds of dies in mine and had zero issues. If the lock rings won't fit, put them under the tool head instead of on top.

[TNsailorman]

As long as they are 7/8x14 dies they will work fine. I never used Dillon dies. james

[Gunslinger1911]

A dozen + Lee dies on my 550 - no issues.

[Kevin Rohrer]

I used everyone's dies on my 550; no issues.

[Old School Big Bore]

I have used RCBS, Pacific, Lyman, Lee and Dillon dies in my two "500s". Lee dies in particular seem to be too short and their notion of "lock" rings means I throw them "over here" and order another 10-pack of the skinny Dillon 1" wrench version. The smaller lock rings are also handy if you have the light kit that sticks into the center hole of the toolhead. I have considered doing the D&T/setscrew route but with all the toolheads I have, it'd be a week's work and I don't want to hassle with building a jig for them, much less drilling the frames to access the setscrews without removing the toolheads.
My 450 frames are so old they have serial number plates. I bought the 550 frames and multi-packs of toolheads. I never upgraded to the automatic powder measures and primer pickup after having trouble with both on a square deal and 650; I prefer the manual versions for QC reasons. Thus I refer to them as 500s. I did add the loaded round ejector kits as well as the hoo-hah super stands. I keep one set up for small primers and the other for large primers - saves a lot of time changing them out. Staying with the manual measures has had a couple of drawbacks - you have to find a Dillon technician who was born before 1990 if you need a "450 type" powder funnel, and they have now quit servicing the manual measures. Therefore, if I buy two of the automatic powder measures to replace my manual type measures, which are wearing sloppy now, I will have to buy all "550" style powder funnels at X dollars times twenty-something calibers, so I have bought two Lee Pro Auto Disc measures plus adjustable slides and double disc sets, and plan to buy two of the Auto Drum models plus the extra drums.
Don't worry about the Lee slop rings not wanting to work with the Dillon press - flip them over, remove the useless O-ring and use them upside down. They will tighten right up but you will have to work out getting some sort of tightening tool onto them in that restricted space, especially if your Lee dies came with the goofy sprocket-shaped rings. Again, Dillon has multi-packs of the slim hex rings, steel or zinc, and the appropriate wrench.
Ed <><

[Fishoot]

I had the same experience as downzero. I struggled with a Lee die for awhile and decided to try the lock ring on the bottom of the die plate. It worked fine. My dies were older so maybe Lee has lengthened the die threads now.

[MrWolf]

I've used others in my 550 but do prefer Dillon. Guess it's a personal preference. Good luck

[Petrol & Powder]

I don't think I need to toss in here but why not?

I use a large assortment of dies in a 550, including different brands of dies on the same toolhead.

I can't blame Dillon for wanting people to purchase their dies but even Dillon "saw the light". The Square Deal B requires proprietary dies but the 550, 650, 1050 all were made to accept industry standard 7/8" dies.

[mister gizmo]

I agree with most posters ... I've used RCBS dies in my 450 and several 550s. Some times I need the hex lock rings and sometimes the round lock rings (and of course my RockChucker) .No adapters needed.

[Baltimoreed]

Any dies will work. Just a heads up about Dillon 450 and 550 powder measures. I first tried the 450 [manual] measures but now have 550 auto measures on my Lyman T-2 presses set up for pistol ammo. They work great. Very consistent.

[jmorris]

You need their shellplate and powder die/funnel (if you want to use their measure) and locating pins. After that any brand of 7/8-14 die will work. Some of them you might have to put the lock ring under the tool head, as some don’t have enough threads left above, for one.

[Green Frog]

Thanks guys! Considering I didn’t drop an irritant bomb to intentionally troll up responses, the number of (positive) posts here blows me away! It’s obvious that there are a lot of Dillon users here and that they are working well for you with all kinds of dies as well as the prescribed Dillon brand. I should get my conversion kit as described by jmorris in the preceding post by tomorrow or Saturday and will be able to easily convert the press (which is now set up for 38 MRWCs) to be loading 32s for my several S&Ws. Again, thanks for all of the helpful responses.

Regards,
Green Frog

[lightman]

Like most of the others, I have used a few different manufactures dies in my Dillon. With a few exceptions they all worked well. The exceptions were older RCBS dies. It seems that the mouth on older RCBS dies had less radius than their newer dies and it was possible to have problems with cases entering the die.